Relating to accepting an early voting ballot voted by mail; creating a criminal offense.

SB 1436 prohibits county clerks and election officials from suspending standard requirements for accepting mail-in early voting ballots. It creates a Class A misdemeanor penalty for officials who violate this rule, making it illegal to bypass established procedures for handling mailed ballots. The law applies only to offenses occurring on or after September 1, 2025, and does not change how voters cast ballots. This bill directly affects election administrators who manage early voting ballot processing.